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23 February 2012

Star Wars Episode 1 on 3D: I like

Wow, has it really been 13 years since Episode 1 was shown on the big screen? I guess the wait was even between Episode 6 and Episode 1: 16 years. (At least there were the Special Editions in between.)

I remember the time when the Prequel Episodes came out. I was too young to have any buying power when Star Wars came out in 1977 and the early 80s after that, so I really missed out on the excitement of owning action figures and such. So the Special Editions were sort of a second chance for me to enjoy my Star Wars moment.

I had a Star Wars week here in my blog, and purchased some action figures. Not really a lot, but just a Darth Vader, Admiral Ackbar, a couple of Legos, and more Artoos than I intended. It was great fun.

So what would you expect if Star Wars came out on the big screen once more? It's back to the theatres! And this time, with my son Jo-Lo. It's time he learned the ways of the Force.

So what is my reaction to Star Wars Episode 1 on 3D?

First off, I was not really expecting much of the conversion, because of what happened with the Clash of the Titans remake. They hastened to make a 3D version of it but it was not really filmed for 3D and the effort was panned. While I was not able to watch the 3D Clash, I already had an impression that converted movies are not that great... 3D-wise.

It's good then that I did not set my expectations high, because I was pleasantly surprised and impressed with Star Wars Episode 1. The Introductory text crawling from the bottom of the screen into the void is really meant for 3D. The battle scenes, the podracing, these were really good.

Unfortunately, the letdown for me in the original Episode 1 is still the same with this 3D version. It's the long dialogues, it's the politics scenario.

But still, the 3D conversion is really good so I did not mind watching it on this new format. So that's $40.00 well worth it. I am already looking forward to the other episodes! I hope it's not another 3-year wait per installment? That's a whopping 15 years til Episode 6! In 2027! 3D might be obsolete by then.

Oh, I just learned that another episode will be released just a year after. Whew!

And with that, I leave you with the lightsaber duel between Qui Gon Jinn, Obi Wan Kenobi, and Darth Maul, with the background music Duel of the Fates (yes, I have the Episode 1 music on CD). And may I also quote the Copyright Disclaimer Under Section 107 of the Copyright Act 1976 in case the Force does not protect me from copyright infringement.